Oxygenation of p-nitrophenylhydrazones with Co(II)-schiff base complexes

$\text{p}$-Nitrophenylhydrazones, unsusceptible to autoxidation, are readily oxygenated in the presence of a five-coordinate cobalt(II)-Schiff base complex, Co(II)(MeOSalen) (Py) leading to quantitative formation of novel 1-($\text{p}$-nitrophenylazo)-1-peroxy Co(III) complexes 2, which were isolated as crystals. A plausible mechanism involving hydrogen abstraction by Co(III)(O₂^?.) from the substrate followed by formation of a substrate anion Co(III) complex intermediate is proposed.